What are Carbs?

Lots of people are confused about carbohydrates, more commonly known as “carbs.” Thanks to diet crazes, such as the “No Carb” diet, many people have foolishly eliminated this all important organic compound from their diet. Carbohydrates, much like calories, provide the body with the energy it requires to perform correctly and efficiently. Without carbohydrates, you will certainly feel dull and sluggish. Of course, the same thing can also happen if you eat too many carbohydrates or if you eat the wrong kinds of carbohydrates. Whether you’re a serious athlete looking to increase your muscle while minimizing your body fat or just a regular person attempting to live a healthier lifestyle, you do need to eat carbohydrates and you need to eat them in the correct amounts and of the right variety.

First of all, make sure you are eating complex carbohydrates. These are the “good” carbs that are found in foods such as brown rice, plain potatoes, and whole grain cereal or bread. If you’re trying to lose weight or maintain your weight, you should eat these carbohydrates in the amount recommended by your nutritionist or the food pyramid. If you’re hoping to bulk up or improve your performance in sports, you will want to try and have these carbohydrates make up most of your caloric intake. This is because complex carbs work to increase your workout endurance, provide you with long lasting energy, and reduce the amount of fat storage in the body. In addition to making sure you’re eating complex carbs, also try and eat carbohydrates that are high in fiber whenever possible. Fiber can help you to build more muscle and will also serve to keep your body regular and properly flushed out.

For those who are involved in an exercise program, an important part of both losing weight and building muscle, it is advisable to eat a small amount of carbohydrates after finishing a workout. Doing so provides the body with an “insulin spike” which causes it to be able to more easily develop muscle. If you’re working out especially hard, as is often the case with bodybuilders and other athletes for whom strength is important, not eating carbohydrates after a workout can actually be destructive and prevent muscles from building.

In addition to monitoring the type of carbohydrates you eat, you also need to be careful of when you eat carbohydrates. This compound burns slowly in the body, which can present a problem if you’re trying to lose weight. Therefore, it is advisable not to eat any carbohydrates directly before bed. In fact, many doctors and nutritionists advise cutting off carbohydrate consumption after 7 pm.

When you do eat carbs, don’t just pack them all into one meal. Your metabolism will increase and you’ll be better able to burn fat effectively if you spread your carbohydrates out. Eating several small carbohydrate containing meals throughout the day is much better for you than eating three large meals per day. Also be sure to include moderate amounts of protein in each of your meals. This combination of proteins and carbohydrates will stop your body from storing the calories as fat and will also give your metabolism a healthy boost.

Finally, if you’re trying to bulk up on the muscle or tone down on the waistline, avoid sugar as much as possible. This includes the natural sugar found in fruits and fruit juices as well. This is because these foods have a great deal of fructose, which when ingested triggers the body to store fat. Follow these carbohydrate tips, and you’ll be sure to feel better and to experience some great results as well.